Mattress border stitching machine



Dec. 7, 1943. D, N KELLY 2,336,404

MATTRESS BORDER STITCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -bo 55 d D. N. KELLY MATTRESS BORDER STITCHING MACHINE Dec.. 7, 1943.

Filed Jan. 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1943. D. ELU 2,336,404

MATTRESS BORDER STITCHING CHINE Filed Jan. so. 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet' 3 D. N. KELLY MATTRESS BORDER STITCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 weor:

D@ Mvq Patented ec. 7, 1943 Dwight N. `Kelly, Chicago, Ill.,

Brandwein & Company,

tion of Illinois assignor to A.

Chicago, lll., a corpora- Application January 30, 1942, Serial No. 428,842

(Cl. i12-117) 11 Claims.

The invention relates generally to stitching machines and more particularly to a machine for making parallel lines of stitching on mattress borders or the like.

'I'he invention has among its objects the production of such a machine for securing a plurality of plies of material to one-another by a plurality of rows of parallel lines of stitching, which machine is relatively simple in construction having a minimum number of parts and which is very dependable and fast in operation.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a machine wherein the stitching mechanism is continuously actuated eliminating the necessity of cutting or breaking the threads at the end of each line of stitching.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a machine which is so constructed that it may be readily adjusted to form lines of stitching of various lengths and spaced apart various distances.

A further object of the invention is the production of novel means for holding the material in position while being stitched which means may be readily used in conjunction with a border of varying thicknesses and widths.

Other objects of the invention are the im- The machine illustrated in the drawings is adapted to stitch a plurality of plies together. as for example, in a mattress border or boxing wherein the line of stitching extends transversely across the boxing at spaced intervals to produce a uted eiect. The boxing usually comprises an outer boxing strip, an inner fabric strip and padprovements in stitching mechanisms of the ty'pe described, in sundry details as will be apparentV to those skilled in the art from the disclosure hereinafter given.

To this endA my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a machineV embodying the present invention with a portion ot the supporting framework broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 4'is 'a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hold-down mecha' nism taken approximately. on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation chine hold-down means.;

Fig. 7 is a side elevationalvie'w of the same; and

of .the stitching mathe line 8,-8 of Fig. i.

forming a second ding interposed'between Ithe two, the padding being normally narrower than the outer ply.l

The machine broadly comprises a stitching mechanism supported upon a suitable frame and longitudinally movable across the latter, the materia] stitched being intermittently fed transverselythrough the stitching mechanism which is designed to stitch regardless of the direction in which the stitching mechanism is moving relative to the material being stitched, and is in continuous operation.

.The mechanism for feeding the material is synchronized with the stitching mechanism so that the former will remain inoperative while the stitching mechanism travels across the material. As the stitching mechanism reaches the end of its travel the material will be fed forward thereby longitudinally stitching adjacent the edge of the material. Upon stopping of the feeding mechanism the sewing mechanism will begin its return movement across the material forming another line of-stitching. As at stitch the material will be fed as the sewing mechanism reaches the end of its travel thereby longitudinally extending line of stitching at the opposite side of the material, after which, the cycle will again be repeated. It will be noted that with this construction the stitching 'mechanism regardless of carriage movement, is continuously in operation so that means for breaking or cutting of the thread.is eliminated. Not only is means for performing the latter functions omitted, but also means for starting and stopping the stitching mechanism with the needle in raised position at the end of a line of stitching. As a result, the machine is relatively simple in construction requiring a minimum number of parts.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I indicates generally a supporting frame comprising legs 2 connected ladjacent their upper ends by end members 3 and front and rear members 4 and '5. Extending be-- pair of spaced ways 6, the latter being rectangular in cross section as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Supported on the ways 6 by grooved rollers 1 is a carriage, indicated generally by the nuthe end' of the previous merel 8 which is movable back and forth on the ways 6. Mounted on the carriage 8 is a. stitching mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 8 of general construction which is adapted to The stitching mechanism The stitching mechanism is operatively connected to a motor the motor being mounted on suitable cross members carried by the supporting frame I, and connected to a countershaft I2 by suitable means such -as pulleys or sheaves I3 and I4 and the belt -I5, the countershaft I2 being journaled in suitable bearings I6 and I1, the latter in turn being supported by respective cross members I8. Pivotally related, at one end, to the bearing |1 is an arm I9, the latter being rotatable relative the shaft I2 about the axis of the latter. The free end of the arm |9- is pivotally connected as shown at 20 to a second arm 2| which is pivotally related at its opposite end to a gear box 22, supported from the lower side of the carriage 8. Carried by one of said may be locked in position on the plate by means ofthe nut 49 and, if desired, an adjustment stud 50 and nut 5I may be provided tog-.facilitate a relatively fine adjustment of the member 48 relative the plate 45. Obviously, as the plate is rotated by the motor and connecting mechanism the carriage 8 will be reciprocated back and forth on the ways 6. As illustrated in Figs.

.1 and 8; the link member 46 is provided with a slot 52 through which the pin 53, carried by the member 48, extends so that there will be somelost motion between the plate 45 and link 46 at each end of travel of the carriage. The latter will therefore remain in a stationary position at each end of a line of stitching vwhile said lost motion is taken up by the mechanism, the duration of this stationary period being controlled by the length-of the slot 52. Thelink member l 46 is preferably made in two sections, 46a which is threaded into the second section 46h and locked in position. with respect thereto by a arms and rotatable on the common axis thereof is a pair of pulleys or sheaves 23 and 24respectively, the pulley 23 being connected to the countershaft I2 by a pulley 25 and belt 26. The pulley 24, in like manner, is connected to the drive shaft 21, journaled in the gear box 22, by a pulley 28 and belt 292 The pivotal connection of the arm 2|, the gear box 22 and shaft 21 have a common axis so that as the carriage 8 is reciprocated on the ways 6, the arms I9 and 2|' are free to move about their respective pivotal connections thereby providing a traveling connection between the countershaft I2 and the shaft 21. suitable means may be employed in place of the belts and pulleys. The shaft 21 is operatively connected to a transverse shaft 3| by suitable gearing carried in the gear box 22, the latter being of ordinary construction, the details of which are not shown. The shaft 3| in turn is connected to the main drive shaft 32 of the stitching mechanism v9 by pulleys 33 and 34 mounted on the respective shafts and the belt 35. Thus, the drive shaft 32 is positively connected to the motor II at all times regardless of the movement or position of the carriage 8 and stitching mechanirm 8 `with I respect thereto.

The reciprocating mechanism Also mounted on the cross members I8 is a reduction gear box indicated generally by the Y numeral 4|, the internal details of which are 46, which is pivotally connected at one end to the plate 45 and at its other end tothe column or projection 41 rigidly carried by the carriage 8. The pivotal connection between the link 46 and plate 45 is offset from the axis of the shaft 42 whereby the plate 45 in effect forms a crank arm, the effective length of which may be varied by radially moving the connecting member 48 in the slot 48a in the plate 45. The member 48 Obviously, chains and sprockets, or other lock nut, thereby providing a means of lengthening or shortening the link 46 to provide an additional means of adjustment. It will be apparent that the amount of travel of the carriage 8 and stitching mechanism 8 will be readily controlled by the positioning of the pivotal connection between th link 46 and plate 45 with respect to the axis of the shaft 42, while the position of the stitching mechanism at the beginning and end of each stroke may be controlled by adjusting the link 46.

The feeding mechanism Mounted on a suitable cross member extend-- ing between the front and rear connecting mem'- bers 4 and 5 are a pair ofv standards designated generally by the numeral 55. Journaled in the standards or uprights 55 is a lower roller 56 and an upper roller 51, the latter being supported for movement toward and away fro-m the roller 56 but normally urged towards the latter by a spring 58 or other suitable means which may be adjusted by the screw 59. The rollers 56 and 51 initially receive the materials being fed as clearly shown in Fig. 5 after which the material passes through the stitching mechanism and through a second pair of rollers 6I and 62which are journaled in uprights or standards 63, which are suitably supported by the frame-work of the machine. The rollers 6| and 62 are operatively connected by a pair of meshed pinions 65 and 66 rigidly carried by the roller shafts 61 and 68 respectively, the shaft 61 being also provided with a ratchet wheel 69 rigidly secured thereto. Supported by the lower end member 1| and cross member 12 is a reduction gear box 13 having a driving shaft 14 connected to the countershaft I2 by a, gear 15 meshing with the gear l43 on the shaft |2.

Extending from the ygear box 13 is a driven shaft 16 having a cam 11 rigidly secured thereto, The latter is engageable with a roller 18 rotatably carried by an arm 18 which in turn is pivotally mounted on an upright 8| by means of the bolt 82 as illustrated in Fig. 4, the upright 8| being rigidly mounted on the member 83 carried by the lower end member 1|. A spring 84 urges the arm 19 upwardly, thereby tending to maintain the roller 18 in engagement with the cam 11. Rotatable about the axis of the shaft 61 is a ratchet arm 85 having a pawl 86 thereon engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 63, a flat spring 81 urging the pawl 86 into engagement with the tive members 19 and 85. The link 88 is con-- nected to the ratchet arm in such a manner that the pivotal connection between the link 88. and the arm 85 may be moved towards or away from the'axis of the shaft 6l and locked in any desired position, thereby providing means of adjustment for varying the rotation of the feed rolls 6I and 62. Thus as the shaft I8 is rotated and with it the cam 1l, the feed rolls will be intermittently rotated to feed the material being stitched through the stitching mechanism. The driving ratiosbetween the motor Il and the respective boxes 4| and 13 are such that the feed rolls 6l and 62 will be partially rotated each time the stitching mechanism arrives at the end of its travel in either direction.

The hold-down mechanism To insure the material passing through the stitching mechanism lying at and unwrlnkled adjacent the needle while a line of stitching is formed, novel hold-down means is provided, the latter being illustrated in `Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. This mechanism comprises' a plate 89, above which are a` pair of standards or lugs 90 secured by any suitable means to the respective uprights 55, a rod 9| extending between and secured to the respective standards 90. Centrally positioned with respect to the material passing through the stitching mechanism is a relatively heavy roller 92 rotatably carried by a,

pair of arms 93, the latter being pivotally secured adjacent their free ends to the rod 9i, collars 99 being secured to the rod 9i to prevent lateral displacement of the arms 93 relative the material. Thus, the roller 92 is free to revolve about its own axis and also free to move up and down about the rod 9i. The roller 92 compresses the material between it and the plate 89 and maintains the central portionv of the material in proper position for stitching and prevents shifting of the same. Positioned on each side oi. the roller 92 is a shorter roller 95 freely rotatable about a shaft or stud 96 rigidly carried by an arm 91 which is pivotally supported adjacent its free end by the rod 9|. The arms 9'! and rollers.

95 are urged downwardly towards the plate 89 to rmly engage the edges of the material by springs 98, the ends of which are secured to collars 99 rigidly secured to the rod 9i and the opposite ends extending at right angles, .as shown at, I9! to engage the respective arms 91, The tension of the springs 98 may be readily, adjusted by rotating the collars 99 about the rods 9|, the collars being locked in position on the rod by suitable set screws or the like so that any desired pressure may be exterted upon the fabric by the rollers 95. This construction is particularly desirable where the plies of material being stitched are of diiferentlwidths, such as that illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein the boxing, indicated generally by the letter B, comprises an inner ply I and an outer ply O betweenwhich is positioned a layer of padding P, the latter be- 3 and with respecta th roller az and to thereby securely hold the edges of the plies in proper position. It will be apparent of the roller 92 itis heavy enough to maintain the central portion of the boxing in position with- -out applying additional force to the roller by the use of springs or. other means. The rollers 95 are also desirable where the padding extends entirely across the boxing to permit the edges of the boxing from arihg pressure foot construction 'is employed on the stitching'mechanism and comprises a longitudinally movable rod III carried by the stitching head I I2, a suitable spring or the like urging the rod IH downwardly towards the material being stitched. Secured to the free end of the. rod Ill is a block H8 to which is rotatably'secured a disk-like roller H4. The latter is preferably rounded slightly adjacent its forward edge, as shown atl I5, to eliminate any possibility of the roller bunching the material as the latter is fed through the machine by the feed rolls 5i and 62. As shown in Figs.. 5 and 6 the axis-of the roller I i4 is inclined slightly to position the lower needle. Th operation of the machine In operation the material will be. advanced a step and held in stationary position by the rollers and hold-down mechanism while the stitching head travels across the material, thereby forming a lateral line of stitching entirely across the boxing. As the stitching mechanism ends its travel it will renain in a stationary position for a predetermined period while the lost motion is taken up between the link 4G and the plate 45 which has been previously described. While the carriage is in such stationary position the feed rolls 6I and 62 to advance the material one step and as the stitching mechanism is continually driven through the belts 26, 29 and 35 a longitudinal line of stitching will be formedupon or adjacent to the edge of the boxing. Simultaneous with the completion of the' feeding movement of the material the lost motio in the reciprocating mechanism will 'have been taken up and the stitching head will then travel back across the material forming a second line of stitching laterally across the boxing. At the termination of this second-line of stitching, the carriage will ing narrowerin width than either of the plies I or O. Obviously, with such a boxing construction the roller 92 would not retain the edges of the plies I and O in proper position, even though the roller 92 were lengthened to overlle the entire boxing. However, with the present construction the spring actuated rollers 95 4are free to move independently with respect tq each other come to a rest as the lost motion is again taken up, during which stationary period the feed rolls 6I and 52 will again be partially rotated to feed the material another step, thereby forming 'a second longitudinally extending line of stitching adjacent the opposite edge of the boxing from that having the longitudinally extending'line of stitching previously formed, and upon completion of the feeding movement the carriage will again start its travel to begin .another completecycle of operation. It will be apparent that with the present construction the stitching -mechanism is in continuous operation regardless of the movement of the carriage or material, thereby eliminating starting and stopping such mechanism at the end of each row of stitches cutting or breaking the thread etc., and as the stitching mechanism is operative during both forward andreturn movement of the carriage instead of merely during the forward movement, the boxing may be stitched in one-half the amount of time required that due 5to the size upwardly. To further assure smooth and elcient operation a novel will be partially rotated g for stitching on a machine operating in one direction only.

combination of a supporting frame, a pair of. ways carried by said frame, a, carriage movably,

carried by said Ways, a stitching mechanism mounted on said carriage, a main drive shaft i journaled in vsaid frame, a gear box mounted on said frame having a driving and a driven shaft, spur gears operatively connecting said drive shaft and the driving shaft of said gear box, `said driven shaftextending vertically and having a crank member carried by the upper end thereof, a link member pivotally connected at its Arespective ends to said crank arm and said carriage respectively, a shaft rotatably' carried by said carriage operatively connected to said stitching mechanism for actuating the latter, means for operatively connecting said shafts, a pair of' feed rollers gearedto one another, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said rollers, a ratchet arm rotatable about the axis of said last mentioned roller having a pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel, a gear box having a driving and a driven shaft, said driving shaft having a gear thereon engageable with the gear on said drive shaft, a cam mounted on said last mentioned driven shaft, a lever pivotally supported at one end by said frame and having means thereon engageable with said cam, resilient means for urging said lever towards said cam, and a link mem-- 3f In a machine of the kind described the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of ways carried by said frame, acarriage movably carried -by said ways, a stitching mechanism mounted on said carriages. main drive shaft journaled in said frame, a gear box mounted on saidframe having a driving and a driven shaft, spur gears operatively connecting said main drive shaft and the ber operatively connecting the free end of said`- lever and the free end of said ratchet arm.

2. In 'a machine of the kind described the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of Ways carried by said frame, a carriage movably carried by said ways, a stitching mechanism mounted on said carriage, a main drive shaft journaled in said frame, a gear box mounted on said frame having a driving and a driven shaft, spur gears operatively connecting saidmain drive shaft and the driving shaft of said gear box, said driven shaft extending vertically and having a crank member carried by the upper end thereof, a link member pivotally connected at its respective ends to said crank member and said carriage respectively, a shaft rotatably carried by said carriage operatively connected to said stitching mechanism for actuating the latter, an arm operatively carried at one end by said carriage and rotatable about the axis of said stitching mechanism drive shaft, a second arm operatively carried at one end by said frame and rotatable about the axis of said main drive shaft, said arms being pivotally connected to one4 another at their free ends, driven means rotatable about the common pivot point of said arms, a belt member operatively connecting said main drive shaft and said driven means, and a second belt member connecting said driven means and said stitching mechanism drive shaft, means for feeding material through said stitching mechanism, and means for actuating said feeding means at the end of each forward and return movement of said carriage.

driving shaft of said gear box, said driven shaft extending vertically and having a crank carried by the upper end thereof, a link member pivotally connected at its respective ends to said crank member and said carriage respectively, a shaft rotatably carried by said carriage operatively connected to said stitching mechanism for actuating the latter, said shaft extending parallel to said main drive shaft, an arm' operatively carried at one end by said carriage and rotatable about the axis of said stitching mechanism drive shaft, a second arm operatively carried at one end by said frame and rotatable about the axis of said main drive shaft, said arms being pivotally connected to one another at their free ends, driven means rotatable about the common pivot point of said arms, a belt member operatively connecting said main drive shaft and said driven means, and a second belt member connecting said driven vmeans and said stitching mechanism drive shaft,

a pair of feed rollers geared to one another, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said rollers, a

ratchet arm, rotatable about the axis of said last 'mentioned roller, having a pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel, a gear box having a driving and a driven shaft, said driving shaft having a gear thereon engageable with the gear on said drive shaft, a cam mounted on said last mentioned .driven shaft, a lever pivotally supported at one end by said frame and having means thereon engageable with said cam, resilient means for urging said lever towards said cam, and a link member operatively connecting the free end of said lever and the free end of said ratchet arm.

4. In a machine of the kind described the cornbination of a supporting frame, a pair of ways carried by said frame, a carriage movably carried by said Ways, a stitching mechanism mounted on said carriage, a main drive shaft journaled in said frame, a reduction gear box mounted on said frame having a driving and a driven shaft, spur gears operatively connecting said main drive Ashaft and the driving shaft of said gear box, said driven shaft; extending vertically and having a crank member carried by the upper end thereof, a hnk member pivotally and slidably connected at its respective ends to said crank arm and said carriage respectively, `a shaft rotatably carried by said carriage operatively connected to said stitching mechanism for actuating the latter, said shaft extending parallel to said main drive shaft, an

arm operatively carried at one end by said carriage and rotatable about the axis of said stitching mechanism drive shaft, a second arm operatively carried at one end by said frame and rotatable about the axis of said drive shaft, said arms being pivotally connected to one another at their free ends, pulleys rigidly carried by the respective shafts, a two sheaved pulley rotatable about the common pivot point of said arms, a belt operatively connecting the pulley on said main assiomav wheel, a gear box having a driving and a driven shaft, said driving shaft having a gear thereon engageable with the gear on said drive shaft, a cam mounted on said last mentioned driven shaft,

. a lever pivotally supported at. one end by said member positioned above said base plate, a pairv of arms rotatably carried at one of their ends by said supporting member, a hold-down roller carried by said arms adjacent the free ends of the latter and rotatable relative thereto, a second pair of arms carried at one of their ends by said supporting member androtatable on the common axis of said iirst mentioned pair of arms,

' and a roller rotatably carried by each of said second mentioned arms, and a pair of springs, each spring having one of its ends operatively connected to one of said second pair of arms and at the other end to said supporting member for urging each of said last mentioned arms and its respective roller towards said base plate.l

6. In a hold-down device of the kind described the combination oi' a base plate, a supporting member positioned above said base plate, a pair of arms rotatably carried at one of their ends by said supporting member, means for preventing axial movement of said arms relative said member, a hold-down roller carried by said arms adjacent the free ends of the latter and rotatable relative thereto, a second pair of arms carried at one of their ends by said supporting member and rotatable on the common axis of said first mentioned pair of arms, a roller rotatably carried by each of said second mentioned arms, the axes of the respective rollers being equidistant from the common axis of said arms relative to said sup-= porting member, and a pair of springs, each I end by said shaft, a hold-down roller carried by the opposite ends of said arms and freely rotatable relative to same, said arms being rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a second pair of arms rotatably carried by said shaft, rollers rotatably carried by the respective last mentioned arms and resilient means for urging said arms and rollers towards the material to be held, said last mentioned rollers being positioned adjacent the ends of said rst roller.

8. In a machine ofthe kind described, the comdriving member and a link mechanism connected therewith and with said carriage for reciprocating said carriage ma. said ways, and lost motion means interposed between said drive member and said link mechanism for rendering said rei ciprocating means inoperative and to interrupt i. the movement oi said carriage during actuation of the feeding means.

I9. In a` machine ot the kind described, the

combination oi'. a supporting frame, a pair ofL ways carried by said frame, a carriage movable on said ways, a stitching mechanism mounted on said carriage, means for continuously actuating said stitching mechanism, means for reciprocating said carriage and mechanism including a rotatably driven member and a pitman member, means ior rendering said reciprocating means in.

operative at the beginning and end of each stroke of said pitman member to maintain said carriage stationary for a predetermined interval o! time, and means for ieeding'the material to be stitched relative to said stitching mechanism while said carriage is in such stationary position.

10. In a machine for sewing rows of stitching on material at an angle with respect to the path of travel of said material while the latter is in termittently fed through the machine, the combination of a sewing mechanism movably carried for reciprocatory. motion across the face of the material, of driving means including i'eed means to intermittently advance said material relative ,l

ber, and lost motion mechanism associated with one end of said connecting member to cause the sewing mechanism to dwell at predetermined intervals during the reclprocation thereof and at such intervals when said material is advanced :relative to said sewing mechanism by said feed*l means.

11. Inl amachine for applying rows of stitching transversely to the movement of the material being stitched, the combination of a reciprocatory4 sewing unit, of drive mechanism including feed means for intermittently advancing said material through the machine, and reciprocatory means for moving said sewing unit, said'reciprocatory means comprising a driven member re-l volving on a iixed axis of rotation, and a pitman connected at one end with said driven member and at the other end with said sewing unit, one

of the connections oi one of the ends .of said l pitman` including lost motion mechanism to render-said pitman inoperative at certain intervals in the cycle o! operation of the machine and coincident with the periods when said material is advanced relative to said sewing unit ,by said feed means, said lost motion mechanism including adjustablemeans for varying the periodl oi' v dwell of said sewing unit during the feed of the material. r

.DWIGHT- N. KELLY. 

